Academic Writing Sample Task 1 #66

The tables below give information
about the amount of beer and fruit juice consumed per person per year in different
countries.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Beer*

1 Ireland

155 litres

2 Germany

119 litres

3 Austria

106 litres

4 Belgium

98 litres

5 Denmark

98 litres

6 United Kingdom

97 litres

7 Australia

89 litres

8 United States

85 litres

9 Netherlands

80 litres

10 Finland

79 litres

Fruite
juice*

1 Canada

52.6 litres

2 United States

42.8 litres

3 Germany

38.6 litres

4 Austria

37.3 litres

5 Sweden

35.5 litres

6 Australia

34.4 litres

7 Finland

33 litres

8 United Kingdom

29.3 litres

9 Netherlands

28.1 litres

10 New Zealand

24.8 litres

*Litres per person per year

IELTS Writing Tip: Comparing Data

Where more than one table is given in task 1 of the writing test, you
are expected to compare and contrast the information. There are
TWO ways of structuring this kind of writing task. Firstly, present
the information from one table, then compare and contrast it with the information
in the other table. Alternatively, compare the information point by point,
that is describe point 1 in the first table and compare it with point 1
in the second table, and so on. Remember that whichever approach you take
you should always begin with an overview of the table and try to limit your
answers to the most significant points.

Model answer

The tables show the amount of beer and fruit juice consumed
per person per year in countries around the world. Beer is most popular in Ireland,
with the average Irish drinking 155 litres per year. Germany ranks second with 119
litres per person. In fact, the top six countries in terms of consumption of beer
are all European. Australia and The United States come next in seventh and eighth
positions, with Netherland and Finland consuming the least beer of the countries
mentioned. Finnish people only drink an average of 79 litres of beer a year.

The country which consumes by the greatest quantity of fruit juice per capita is
Canada. Canadians drink an average of 52.6 litres each a year, thatís almost double
the consumption of New Zealand, which is placed at the bottom of the table. Another
North American country, The United States, come second in the table, while German
drinkers are ranked at number three, consuming an average of 38.6 litres annually.
Swedes drink approximately the same quantity of fruit juice as Australians, which
is 35.5 litres per year. The Finnish and the British drink 33 and 29.3 litres per
year respectively.